Collapsible container



J1me 1966 w. B. RUPERT, JR., ETAL 3,255,927

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed Oct- 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ju 1966 w. B. RUPERT, JR., ETAL 3,255,927

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed Oct. 5, L964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,255,927 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER William B. Rupert, Jr., La Grange Park, and John S.

Shoup, Chicago, Ill., assignors to United States Bulk Handling and Container Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,556 Claims. (Cl. 222-143) This invention relates to a Collapsible container of the type used for storing and transporting bulk granular material, for example grains, sugar, salt, cocoa powder, malt, flour, soda ash and the like. The invention has particular relation to a collapsible container which is formed of a base or pallet mounting a collapsible bag.

. A primary purpose of the invention is a collapsible container of the type described which can be stacked in a collapsed condition to save space, but which can be quickly assembled and filled.

Another purpose is a collapsible container of the type described having a built-in tunnel for quicker and more complete discharge of the material therein.

Another purpose is a reliably operable collapsible container of the type described.

Another purpose is a simply constructed, strong collapsible container suitable for storing and shipping a variety of granular materials,

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of'a collapsible container of the type described showing the container in the filled condition,

FIGURE 2 is a top planvview of the container illustrated in FIGURE 1, shown in the filled position, but with the filling material removed,

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the container illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, in the filling position,

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the container illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 in the collapsed condition,

, I As-illustrated in FIGURES 1-4, the collapsible container may include a base indicated generally at 10 and a collapsible bag or the like indicated generally at 12.

The base 10 may include a platform 14, preferably formed of wood, for example plywood or the like, supported by laterally and longitudinally extending cross beams 16. Beams 18 extend about the periphery of the 7 base 10. Preferably, the beams 16 and 18 are suitable small gauge steel beams, but wood or aluminum is also satisfactory. Corner posts or legs 20 are positioned at each of the corners of the base, with each of the corner posts peiferably being hollow and having small foot members or the like 22, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, at the bottom. Each of the leg members 20 will interlock, when the containers are stacked, with the foot members 22 extending into the hollow interior of the legs below.

The base 10 may include a discharge opening 24 which is closed by a door 26, with the door 26 being hinged, as at 28, to the bottom of the platform 14. A chain lock or the like indicated generally at 30 is used to lock the door in position and provide a quick release of the door for discharge of the material in the bag 12.

The bag 12 may be made of a great variety of material provided that it is collapsible. For example, a kraft paper is satisfactory, as are canvas, neoprene-coated nylon, neoprene rubber, polyethylene-coated nylon, and various other materials. As a specific example of a satisfactory bag material, the bag may be made up of three plies with each ply including a wet strength kraft pulp, a layer of latex, a layer of fiberglass reinforcement and a three-quarter mil polylaminate. All of the materials may be arranged insuitable laminations with the plies so arranged that both the material inside of the bag and the outside elements contact only the polylaminate. The bag 12 is preferably generally cylindrical, although it could be square or any other similar shape, in its filled state, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The bag 12 may include a boot or the like 32 which is positioned to extend down through the opening 24 when the door 26 has been opened. The boot may have a tie or the like 34 for closing it. A metal ring 36 is positioned inside of the bag and is fastened through the bag onto the platform 14 to secure the bag to the platform.

It is desirable in a container of this type to have some means for facilitating discharge of the material. In the present case, a funnel 38 which may be formed of polyurethane or the like, and which is a solid or rigid member, is positioned Within the bag and has tapering walls 40 which come down to a small opening 42 which is in alignment with the opening 24 in the platform and in alignment with the boot. The funnel 38 is actually inside of the bag and when the bag is in the collapsed condition, as shown in FIGURE 4, the bag will generally lay on top of the funnel.

A plurality of poles or the like 44 may be inserted in sockets 46 formed in the platform 14, Each of the poles may have a hook 48 at its upper end and there are loops or the like 50 formed in the upper end of the bag 12 so that the poles and hooks are effective to hold the bag in an upright or filling position, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. In this position, normally the boot 32 will be within the bag and the door 26 will be closed. Once the container has been filled, then cover 52, which may be polyethylene or any other satisfactory material, is positioned on top of the open end of the bag and a tie or the like 54 is used to hold the cover to the container.

Stacking poles 55 havingsockets 57 at their open ends may be inserted in the upper open ends of legs 20. The poles 55 are used in stacking filled containers one upon the other. When the containers are so stacked, foot members 22 will fit into sockets 57.

Considering the form shown in FIGURES 1-4, note that the height of the legs 20 is above the top of the funnel 38. In this way, when the containers are stacked in the collapsed condition, the feet 22 will be interlocked with the container next below, to shorten the overall height of the container, but yet the containers are not resting on the funnel.

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a second form of the invention.- A base 56 may be formed of a wood top 58 and may have braces or runners 60, for example of wood, along the bottom. The pallet or base 56 may have interlocking openings 62 for positioning of erection poles and bag 64 may be mounted onto the pallet or base in the manner described in connection with the other form shown herein. Again, there is a top 66 .which is held by a tie or the like 68 to the filled container. Legs 70 are mounted on the four corners of the pallet 66 and each of the legs may have an interlocking opening 72 at the top to receive the feet 74 at the bottom of each of the legs. Note particularly FIGURE 7, in which the container is completely collapsed and the pallets are stacked one upon the other. A door assembly indicated generally at 76 may be similar to the door assembly shown in the form of FIGURES 1-4. A boot may also be used and there may or may not be a funnel or unloader.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

The collapsible container shown herein provides a means for shipping and storing granulated material which can be designated dry, flowable material. The containers are collapsible and when in the collapsed condition can be stacked one upon the other in a space-saving manner. To fill the containers, upright poles or the like are interlocked with the base or pallet and the collapsible bag is attached to the top of the poles. Once a container is filled, the bag along with the pallet can be shipped to any desired location, or simply stored. To empty the container, it is merely necessary to open the bottom door and then to pull the boot out'through the opening in the base. Once the boot is open, the material will freely flow out of the container. In the case of the container having a funnel, it is easier to completely empty the container than in the case of a container withou a funnel.

The material making up the bag may vary widely, and to some extent it will depend upon the type of dry granular material which will be within the bag. Certain types of foodstuffs will require certain types of material to be in contact with them. The size of the container will vary widely and it is expected that many diiferent sizes of container will be manufactured and used.

The makeup of the base or pallet may vary and a wood platform with steel reinforcement may be satisfactory as may be a complete wood or aluminum pallet.

It is advantageous to have the legs of a certain length so that the containers may be stacked in the collapsed condition with no weight on the bag material itself, but all weight on the stacked legs. In the case of the container having a funnel, the legs must necessarily be slightly longer to accommodate the funnel which does not collapse. In this respect, it should be realized that a funnel thatdoes collapse may also be satisfactory.

Although the invention has been described in connec-' tion with an open top container, closed top containers with access openings for filling may also be satisfactory.

We claim:

1. In a collapsible container for use in transporting and storing bulk material, a base, a collapsible bag having an opening for filling and a defined bottom opening for discharge, said bag being fixed to said base, an opening in the base in alignment with the bag bottom opening, a door on the base for closing said base opening and means for opening and closing said door, removable upright means on the base for use in holding said bag in an upwardly extended filling position, and a plurality of legs for supporting said base, said legs being of suflicient height to permit stacking of said containers, one upon the other, when the bags are collapsed, with each leg being arranged to interlock with a superimposed leg,

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said base includes a generally flat platform, and a plurality of supporting beams fastened to the bottom of the platform.

3. The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that said base is formed of wood, with said beams being formed of steel and extending at generally degrees to each other across the bottom of said platform.

4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including a funnel formed within the bag and having a bottom opening generally in alignment with the bag opening and with the discharge opening in the base.

5. The structure of claim 4 further characterized in that said funnel is formed of a rigid plastic.

6. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including a collapsible boot formed as a part of the bag and positioned to pass through the base opening when the door is opened to permit discharge of the material within the bag.

7. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including a top for closing said filling opening and for covering the contents of said bag after it is filled, and means for fastening said top to the bag.

8. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said replaceable upright means includes a plurality of poles and an equal number of openings in the base for receiving said poles, each of said poles having means on the top thereof for attachment to the bag.

9. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including stacking posts, insertable in said legs, for stacking said containers when filled.

10. In a collapsible container, a base formed of an upper platform and a plurality of laterally and longitudinally extending supporting beams beneath the platform, a collapsible bag having an open top for filling and a defined bottom opening for discharge, said bag including a collapsible boot which forms the bottom discharge opening, said bag being fixed to said base, an opening in the base in alignment with the bag bottom opening and boot, a door attached to said base for closing said base opening and means for opening and closing said door, a rigid funnel positioned within said bag with the bottom opening of said funnel being in general alignment with the bag bottom opening and with the base opening, a plurality of removal poles and an equal number of interlocking openings on the base, said poles being adapted for use in holding the bag in an upwardly extended stretched filling position, means on top of the poles for attachment to the bag, and a plurality of legs for supporting said base, said legs being of sufficient height to permit stacking of said container, one upon the other, when the bags are collapsed, with each leg-being arranged to interlock with a superimposed leg. 1

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,872,079 2/ 1959 Moore 222-443 3,105,617 10/1963 Felldin 222- 3,131,832 5/1964 Strandberg et al 222-'105 3,154,221 10/ 1964 Ringblom 222l85 X LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

C. R. CARTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER FOR USE IN TRANSPORTING AND STORING BULK MATERIAL, A BASE, A COLLAPSIBLE BAG HAVING AN OPENING FOR FILLING AND A DEFINED BOTTOM OPENING FOR DISCHARGE, SAID BAG BEING FIXED TO SAID BASE, AN OPENING, A THE BASE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE BAG BOTTOM OPENING, A DOOR ON THE BASE FOR CLOSING SAID BASE OPENING AND MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID DOOR, REMOVABLE UPRIGHT MEANS ON THE BASE FOR USE IN HOLDING SAID BAG IN AN UPWARDLY EXTENDED FILLING POSITION, AND A PLURALITY OF LEGS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BASE, SAID LEGS BEING OF SUFFICIENT HEIGHT TO PERMIT STACKING OF SAID CONTAINERS, ONE UPON THE OTHER, WHEN THE BAGS ARE COLLAPSED, WITH EACH LEG BEING ARRANGED TO INTERLOCK WITH A SUPERIMPOSED LEG. 